An eight-year effort to build a new Brooks-TLC Hospital System has almost become an exhausting community endeavor. As the health-care operator continues to lose money on an annual basis — which is consistent with many rural hospitals — its hopes for a future depend on a state-of-the art and downsized facility.

Within the next two weeks, another rally to drum up support for that new building is being planned. That event is to take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 19 in the Northern Chautauqua Catholic School at 336 Washington Ave.

As much as this newspaper promotes regionalism, let us simply state our thoughts regarding the happening: good idea, bad location.

Drivers of this rally are two unions, which are critically needed to support the idea. But it is obvious the organizers of the New York State Nurses Association and 1199 Service Employees International Union are out of touch with the community’s landscape.

Part of the delay in building a new hospital — proposed for Fredonia — is that many city residents are offended by its footprint being removed from 529 Central Ave. in Dunkirk. It’s possible a rally in the heart of the city could work against those trying to get the hospital built as it is likely that residents who oppose relocation of Brooks-TLC will be there to voice support for the current location.

That’s not the collective voice we need at this time. A Fredonia gathering — even at the site on East Main Street at the former Cornell Cooperative Extension land near Route 60 where the facility is targeted for location would be a much better option.

All things considered, this effort has been botched by many parties since 2016. It started with the hospital board and its poor first choice in a location in Pomfret. It continued with disagreements by community residents and leaders on where to locate the building in 2019. Now the unions want a positive rally in the city the hospital is leaving?

No wonder New York state is getting mixed messages.

By all means, let’s support and keep health care in northern Chautauqua County. But understanding the dynamics of Dunkirk and Fredonia is something union leaders — in planning this rally — missed the boat on.